HYDROGEOCHEMISTRY OF KANO RIVER FROM ITS HEADSTREAM DOWN TO HADEJIA-NGURU WETLAND, NORTH WESTERN NIGERIA
HYDROGEOCHEMISTRY OF KANO RIVER FROM ITS HEADSTREAM DOWN TO HADEJIA-NGURU WETLAND, NORTH WESTERN NIGERIA
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Date
2014-06
Authors
GARBA, Iliyasu
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Abstract
Hydrogeological and geochemical investigations were carried out to establish level of
concentrations of heavy metals and other elements, compounds and species origin from
upstream in Kano River down to the Kano metropolis. Concentration levels were measured in
groundwater, bedrock and alluvial sediments of the Kano River drainage basin. Ion
chromatography, inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS), XRF were all
used in the analyses of samples collected.
Representative samples of lithological units reveal that some rocks are inherently
enriched in heavy metals especially in Co, Cr, Ni, Mn and Zn, relative to their crustal average
concentrations. Alluvial sediments especially in the metropolis were also heavily polluted.
Major ions (cations and anions) concentration levels in both surface and groundwater
reveals that the water can be used for various uses especially irrigation, domestic and
engineering constructions. Based on its organic, inorganic and total carbon contents, the
water cannot be used in pharmaceutical industries especially for injections and drugs making.
Three major water types were also established: NaHCO3, CaHCO3 and MgHCO3 and the best
are the MgHCO3 based on comparison made with Richards (1954).
Water (surface and groundwater) in the metropolis was found to be heavily polluted
with heavy metals especially Pb, Cr, Cd, Co, Mn, Zn and As. Consequently the extent to
which the pollution has reached downstream was also established and found to have reached
most parts of the downstream of the drainage basin, where the water is being used for
irrigation as well as domestic purposes. Downstream is an influent river system that is
recharged by the polluted water is located. It was established that the pollution especially in
the metropolis is caused probably by industries and domestic effluents discharged into the
drainage basin.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, NIGERIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENTS FOR THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF A
DOCTORATE DEGREE IN GEOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
Keywords
HYDROGEOCHEMISTRY,, KANO,, RIVER,, HEADSTREAM,, HADEJIA-NGURU,, WETLAND,, NORTH WESTERN,, NIGERIA.